lithotroph

Examples of lithotroph in the following topics:

• The Energetics of Chemolithotrophy

  • Macrofauna and lithotrophs can form symbiotic relationships, in which case the lithotrophs are called "prokaryotic symbionts".
  • A lithotroph is an organism that uses an inorganic substrate (usually of mineral origin) to obtain reducing equivalents for use in biosynthesis (e.g., carbon dioxide fixation) or energy conservation via aerobic or anaerobic respiration.
  • Macrofauna and lithotrophs can form symbiotic relationships, in which case the lithotrophs are called "prokaryotic symbionts".
  • Other lithotrophs are able to directly utilize inorganic substances, e.g., iron, hydrogen sulfide, elemental sulfur, or thiosulfate, for some or all of their energy needs.

• Electron Donors and Acceptors

  • Such organisms are called lithotrophs ("rock-eaters").
  • Lithotrophs have been found growing in rock formations thousands of meters below the surface of Earth.
  • Because of their volume of distribution, lithotrophs may actually out number organotrophs and phototrophs in our biosphere.
  • Just as there are a number of different electron donors (organic matter in organotrophs, inorganic matter in lithotrophs), there are a number of different electron acceptors, both organic and inorganic.

• Archaeoglobus

  • Archaeoglobus are lithotrophs, and can be either autotrophic or heterotrophic.The archaeoglobus strain A. lithotrophicus are lithoautotrophs, and derive their energy from hydrogen, sulfate and carbon dioxide.
  • The strain A. profundus are also lithotrophic, but as they require acetate and CO2 for biosynthesis, and are therefore heterotrophs.

• Shared Features of Archaea and Eukaryotes

  • Some archaea obtain energy from inorganic compounds such as sulfur or ammonia (they are lithotrophs).

• Hyperthermophiles from Terrestrial Volcanic Habitats

  • Some are lithotrophs that oxidize sulfur to sulfuric acid as an energy source, thus requiring the microorganism to be adapted to very low pH (i.e., it is an acidophile as well as thermophile).

• Energy Conservation and Autotrophy in Archaea

  • Some archaea, called lithotrophs, obtain energy from inorganic compounds such as sulfur or ammonia.

• Electron Donors and Acceptors in Anaerobic Respiration

  • Sulfate reduction requires the use of electron donors, such as the carbon compounds lactate and pyruvate (organotrophic reducers), or hydrogen gas (lithotrophic reducers).

• Sulfate and Sulfur Reduction

  • Many sulfate reducers are organotrophic, using carbon compounds, such as lactate and pyruvate (among many others) as electron donors, while others are lithotrophic, and use hydrogen gas (H2) as an electron donor.

• Habitats and Energy Metabolism of Crenarchaeota

  • Some archaea obtain energy from inorganic compounds such as sulfur or ammonia (they are lithotrophs).

• Types of Catabolism

  • Organic molecules are used as a source of energy by organotrophs, while lithotrophs use inorganic substrates and phototrophs capture sunlight as chemical energy.